Havelock takes control of Bears

The future of speedway on Teesside has been secured after Redcar Bears manager Brian Havelock completed his deal to take over the team.

The club's future looked uncertain after Bears promoter Glyn Taylor decided to sell up.

But Havelock has led a consortium to gain control and on Monday he said that the deal was close to agreement.

BBC Tees can confirm that process was concluded on Friday, leaving the Bears free to compete next season.

Any deal looked in doubt over an issue with unpaid debts to creditors, but Havelock earlier that had been resolved and they were close to gaining control of the Bears.

"The people are in line, the consortium's made up and the money's in the bank," he said.

Havelock says the Bears came close to going under, but after weeks of discussions there is some light at the end of the tunnel.

"We just simply couldn't take a thing on that had outstanding debts - it was as simple as that," he added.

"We need capital to get going next year. It was never going to be easy and it hasn't been. We've had several weeks of trying to get this deal pushed through."